Full shot coronavirus vaccine is recommended for pregnant women. Several studies have suggested that vaccination protects expecting mothers by decreasing the risk of contracting the deadly virus. Besides, it has one more benefit. A new study by Northwestern Medicine researchers has said that antibodies produced in pregnant women are transferred to the unborn while in the womb. It said that inoculation before the delivery is beneficial for the both mother and the unborn. The study said that mothers vaccinated against Covid-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy were seen passing more antibodies to their babies. The study involved a detailed analysis of the blood of 27 pregnant women from the US.
The participants were given either the Moderna or Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine during the third trimester. All the 27 ladies gave birth to 28 babies. This included 26 singletons and one set of twins. The findings said that the umbilical cord blood of the newborns carried antibodies from the mother to the babies. After vaccination, the pregnant ladies showed a robust immune response. This helped in guarding them against the virus. Researchers said that a long gap between vaccination and delivery showed effective transfer of antibodies from the mother to the baby. Out of 28 babies, only three at the time of birth did not have positive antibodies. The three babies included the set of twins.
The latest study is the reassurance of the fact that vaccination against Covid-19 during pregnancy is safe and beneficial. Researchers said that they strongly recommend expecting mothers to take the vaccine. They underlined that there is no data available that suggest that vaccination could harm the baby. They said that it is a mechanism that protects the newborn by developing positive antibodies in their body at the time of birth. The study said that vaccinating pregnant ladies during the first or second trimester also showed significant transfer of antibodies. It, however, remains unclear that for how long the positive antibodies transferred to newborns can protect them from the virus.
